Make 38 with four 9s

The classic four nines puzzle: build an expression from exactly four 9s that equals 38. 38 cannot be made with + - × ÷, concatenation, or decimals (the solver checked every expression) — solutions need square roots, factorials, or exponents.

Solutions using only + - × ÷

No expression made of four plain 9s and + - × ÷ reaches 38 — the solver checked every possible expression.

Solutions with concatenation and decimals

Concatenation and decimals do not help for 38 either — every combination was checked.

Solutions with square roots, factorials, exponents

sqrt(9)! × (sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9) / 9) = 38
sqrt(9)! × (sqrt(9) + sqrt(9) / .9) = 38
sqrt(9) × (sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9)! / .9) = 38
sqrt(9)! × sqrt(9)! + sqrt(9)! / sqrt(9) = 38
(sqrt(9)!! / sqrt(9)! - sqrt(9)!) / sqrt(9) = 38

5 distinct solutions found in total, after removing trivial rearrangements.

How 38 compares

38 has 5 distinct solutions across all three tiers — #17 scarcest of all 100 targets. Next door, 37 has 29 solutions and 39 has 84 solutions.

If 38 went down easily, make 44 with four 9s — 2 solutions, the nearest step up in scarcity.

Make 37 with four 9s · Make 39 with four 9s

The Number Lab

Same idea, different constraints: four 9s, four 4s, or any four digits you like.

Four Nines — the daily puzzle
Four Nines solver — every target, solved
Four Fours — the 1881 original
Four Fours solver — including the impossible five
Make 24 solver — any four digits
Today's 24 — one new hand a day

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Four Nines — the daily puzzle: four 9s, one target, new at midnight
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